The bar closed last Thursday after a year-long battle with police, who complained to the License Commission that disturbances in and outside the business was a drain on manpower. O'Reilly, who bought the former City Cafe on the corner of Pleasant and Pearl streets in 2003 and transformed it into Tully O'Reilly's and The Elevens, has said he wants to focus his energies on his King Street restaurant, King Street Eats, and spend more time with his family.

Next Wednesday, Matthew Gibbs will appear before the License Commission seeking the transfer of Tully's liquor, victualer and entertainment licenses in preparation for buying the business. Gibbs, who currently manages Fitzwilly's and The Toasted Owl on Main Street, declined to comment on the sale, saying it is contingent on obtaining the licenses. He said only that he intends to change the format on the Tully O'Reilly's side of the complex by "100 degrees."

Although they are separated by a wall, Tully's and The Elevens share the same liquor and entertainment license. The commission suspended the license for five days last year following a violation hearing regarding a June 16 incident that resulted in seven arrests. It also barred the use of disk jockeys.

The manager of The Elevens argued that The Elevens was a separate business from Tully O'Reilly's and that the ban on disk jockeys was hurting business, but the commission disagreed and upheld the ban.